Shoe-tree.



A. H. B R.

OE BE.- 'APPLIOA n I'ILBD NOV. 7, 1907.

1' 9 07, 1 1 5. r Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

ANDREW H. BAKER, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE -TREE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application filed November 7, 1907. Serial No. 401,066.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW H. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shoe-Trees, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to shoe trees, or shaping and stretching devices of the kind which are commonly employed by the wearers of shoes to keep their shoes in proper shape and condition over night when not on the feet. Many devices for this purpose have been suggested and invented, and the present trend of improvement along this line is to provide not merely a mechanically practical device, but a device which at the same time presents a graceful and attractive external appearance, thereby adapting it to the use of retail shoe dealers as a display-form for displaying the shoes in the store window, etc. Accordingly, my invention aims to combine, in a single structure, simplicity of construction, strength and durability of operation, slight cost of parts and economy in putting them together, and grace and neatness of external appearance.

The structural details of my invention will be pointed out in the course of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of a last or shoe tree constructed according to my invention; and Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, also partly broken away for the same reason.

While the forepart 1 and heel-part 2 of my shoe tree may be of any usual shape and construction, of the whole last or solid wooden kind of tree, said parts are preferably severed along the' oblique line 3.

My invention resides in applying to the above mentioned last-parts a combined handle and hinge, or pivoted connection. made of one piece of wire 4. The wire is bent in a graceful upwardly extending curve, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and secured at its rear end by a screw 5, while the forward end of the handle loop bears at 6 on the top surface of the wood which constitutes the heelpart, and has a depending portion or shoulder 7 in position to engage a transverse pin 8 which maintains the wire rigid and firm in the heel-part, and thence the wire extends forwardly at 9, and is bent down: wardly and back upon itself around a transverse pivot pin 10 extending transversely through the forepart, said pivot pin being herein shown as a cotter pin, on which, as a center, the heel-part 2 swings for its shortening and lengthening movement.

To secure a convenient range of adjustability, I provide a plurality of holes 11 for cooperating with the removable pin 10 in permitting the forepart and heel-part to be separated longitudinally from the position shown in the drawings, and preferably provide similar openings 12 at the rear end of the handle-hinge wire for similarly cooperating with the screw 5. This permits the position of the handle part of the wire 1 to be changed forward or backward with relation to the heel-part to bring the handle into the neatest and most attractive position in the shoe, according to the style and character of the shoe. Also, by having the opposite ends of the wire 4 bent back on themselves, I obtain firmness and stability of position, so that, notwithstanding the fact that the hinge connection and handle are formed simply of a single piece of ordinary wire bent as shown, the construction is exceedingly strong, firm, and durable. F urthermore, by having the ends bent back on themselves as stated, the construction is reinforced, and provision is thus made for resisting twisting strains. To this end also I preferably project the end 13 rearwardly so as to occupy the vertical slot 14 in the heelpart as well as the vertical slot 15 in the forepart, which are provided for permitting the proper hinging or swinging action of the shoe tree.

From the above description, and viewing the drawings, it will be apparent that simply by means of a single wire, bent as described, I provide in one piece a neat, graceful, and attractive handle loop, capable of being secured rigidly to the heel-part by a single screw, and a hinge connection from the heel-part to the forepart capable of desired longitudinal adjustment forusual treeing purposes.

It will be understood that my present showing discloses my preferred construction, but that various embodiments thereof may be made within the spirit and scope of my claims. While,'for the reasons stated, I prefer, for instance, to employ the means shown of connecting and adjusting the handle-hinge with relation to the forepart, the

handle-hinge may be otherwise connected so i as to permit other adjusting movements than simply a sliding, forward and back, movement, or the requirement of the removal of the pin for said adjustment, as it is obvious that the main features of my invention may readily be adapted to many of the well known securing connections and shapes and constructions of last-parts.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shoe tree, comprising a forepart, heelpart, and connecting means hinging the forepart and heel-part together, the latter consisting of a single piece of wire secured at its opposite ends in said respective lastparts, the rear end of said single piece of wire being bent into an upwardly extending loop to constitute a hand-hold and thence extending downwardly and forwardly into the forepart to constitute a hinge'portion, means to prevent the heel-part springing with relation to the forepart, and a transverse pivot for securing said hinge portion.

2. A shoe tree, comprising a forepart, heel-part, and connecting means, the latter including a single-piece member secured rigidly to the top of the heel-part and thence curved above the heel-part in loop shape, engaging at the lower forward end of the loop with the forward portion of the heelpart, and provided at its forward end with means for pivotally connecting the forepart to the heel-part. I

3. A shoe tree, comprising a forepart, heel-part, and connecting means, the latter including a handle secured at its rear end to the back portion of the heel-part and thence curved upwardly, forwardly, and clownwardly in loop shape, engaging at the lower forward end of the loop with the forward portion of the heel-part, and provided at its forward end with means for maintaining said handle portion rigid.

4. A shoe tree, comprising a forepart, heel-part, and connecting means, the latter including a handle having a laterally extended flat end secured flatwise upon the top of the heel-part and thence being bent at its rear end upwardly and around in loop shape to constitute a hand-hold, descending downward forwardly into contact with the front portion of the heel-part, and pro? vided at its forward end with means for maintaining said handle portion rigid.

5. A shoe tree, comprising a forepart, heel-part, and connecting means, the latter including a handle secured at its rear end to the back portion of the heel-part and thence curved rearw'ardly, upwardly, forwardly, and downwardly in loop shape, engaging at the lower forward end of the loop with the forward portion of the heel-part, and thence provided with a depending shoulder entering a slot formed for the purpose in said heel-part, a transverse pin being provided in the heel-part for controlling the forward position of said connecting means.

6. A shoe tree, comprising a forepart and heel-part, combined with a handle-hinge in the form of a single piece of wire bent at its rear end in loop shape to constitute a handhold and at its forward end to constitute a vertical hinge-member, said wire being bent back upon itself at one end and provided with adjusting means.

7. A shoe tree, comprising a forepart and heel-part, combined with a handle-hinge in the form of a single piece of wire bent at its rear end in loop shape to constitute a hand hold and at its forward end to constitute a vertical hinge-member, said wire being bent back upon itself at its opposite ends and provided at each end with adjusting means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREWV H. BAKER.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. H. lWAXWELL, EDWARD MAXWELL. 

